Science Shepherd
A video-led, young-earth-creationist Christian science curriculum for grades 1-12 that requires little daily parent teaching, builds strong student independence, and offers a CLEP-eligible Biology course at the high school level.
View course breakdown
- Grade range
- Grades 1-12 (Introductory Science 1-5; Physical Science, Astronomy, Biblical Archaeology, Life Science, Fundamentals of Chemistry/Physics 6-9; Biology 9-12)
- Format
- A young-earth-creationist Christian science curriculum for grades 1-12 anchored by short daily on-camera video lessons from Dr. Scott Hardin, paired with workbooks and, at higher levels, full coursebooks with formal testing.
- Progression
- Mastery
- What's included
- Daily video lessons (streaming or DVD); Level A/B workbooks at elementary; full coursebooks, Test Booklet, and Answer Key & Parent Companion at Life Science/Chemistry/Physics/Biology; a lab kit (microscope, slides, dissection kit) for Biology.
- Consumable
- Yes
- Role
- Core
- Daily time
- 2–15 minutes
Quick decision
An independent theological reviewer found the curriculum's apologetics framework collapses old-earth and theistic-evolution positions into a single opposing category, favoring a strict young-earth (approximately 6,000-year) reading more assertively than many other Christian science competitors.
Best for
- Young-earth creationist Christian families wanting a video-led, largely independent science curriculum with formal assessments and a CLEP pathway at the high school level.
Think twice if
- Families wanting a secular or theologically moderate (old-earth/theistic-evolution-friendly) Christian science program, or families wanting heavy parent-child co-teaching time.
Shop this curriculum
Purchase directly from Ohana Life Press, LLC dba Science Shepherd (authored by Dr. Scott Hardin).
Parent Experience
What day-to-day actually looks like
How much work this is for you, how independent your child can be, and what a week feels like.
2–15 min
Low
Low
Mastery
Prep required
How much do I do before the lesson?
Source rates Preparation as Low-Moderate; Biology requires lab kit setup.
Parent involvement
How much am I at the table?
One source explicitly states "Parent Involvement: None"; source overall rates Teaching Involvement as Low.
Student independence
How much can my child carry?
Most of the daily work can be done independently.
Daily workload
How much of the day does this take?
A steady, typical daily load for the subject.
Cognitive demand
How hard is the thinking?
Asks your child to think hard and sit with difficulty.
Hands-on level
How much making and doing?
Biology-level lab kit (microscope, slides, dissection kit) is the main hands-on component.
Flexibility
Can we bend it to our week?
Easy to speed up, slow down, or rearrange.
Screen time
How much happens on a device?
Daily video 2-5 minutes (elementary) to 5-15 minutes (middle/high school) at every level.
Trade-offs
Strengths and limitations
Every curriculum trades something away to do something well. Both sides matter equally.
Strengths
What this curriculum is built to do well.
- Low parent-teaching burden and high student independence through video-led daily lessons, with an explicit young-earth creationist theological framework and a path to CLEP-eligible high school Biology credit.
A Typical Day
What a lesson feels like
The student watches a short daily video lesson (2-5 minutes at elementary, 5-15 minutes at middle/high school) led by Dr. Hardin on camera, then completes the corresponding workbook or coursebook section independently, with formal tests given at Life Science level and above.
A rhythm, not a checklist
2–15 min a day- 1
Read
Independent Workbook/Coursebook Completion
Core - 2
Watch
Short Daily On-Camera Video Lessons
Core - 3
Discuss
Talk through the ideas and check comprehension.
Core - 4
Record
Notebooking, narration, mapping, or written work.
Core
Most families move through the core steps and dip into enrichment when there's room — not every activity happens every day.
Learner fit
Fit at a glance
A short read on who tends to thrive here — the full analysis is one tap away.
Strongest alignment
Reflective Thinker
High student independence and workbook/coursebook-based completion give the student space to process video content and written ma…
Persistent Solver
Formal coursebooks and Test Booklets at Life Science level and above, plus a CLEP-eligible Biology course, reward sustained indep…
May require more support
Curious Explorer
Short daily videos deliver content efficiently but in a fixed, presenter-led format rather than open-ended, student-driven explor…
Collaborative Learner
Source rates parent involvement as low to none and the format is built around one student watching a video and working independen…
Fit is about match, not quality — Science Shepherd can work well with the right supports.
Alternatives
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Mystery Science
More unit study in how skills build, with a more explicitly secular presentation.
Go deeper
The full breakdown
Full editorial review
Overall Match
Science Shepherd is for young-earth creationist Christian families who want a video-led science curriculum that a student can work through largely independently, with formal testing and a CLEP-eligible Biology course.
Best Fit
Great for families wanting minimal daily teaching involvement and a student capable of working independently from short video lessons.
Families Often Appreciate
- Short, engaging daily on-camera video lessons from Dr. Scott Hardin
- Formal Test Booklets and Answer Key & Parent Companion at Life Science level and above
- A CLEP-eligible high school Biology course
- Low ongoing parent-teaching burden thanks to the video-led format
Consider Another Option If
- You want a science curriculum compatible with old-earth or theistic-evolution views — an independent theological review found the apologetics framing narrower and more strictly young-earth than some competitors
- You want heavy parent-child co-teaching time rather than a largely independent, video-led format
- You want a firmly published price rather than bundle/subscription pricing that varies
THS Learner Analysis
How Your Child Learns
Curious Explorer
Possible fitShort daily videos deliver content efficiently but in a fixed, presenter-led format rather than open-ended, student-driven exploration.
Reflective Thinker
Excellent fitHigh student independence and workbook/coursebook-based completion give the student space to process video content and written material at their own pace before testing.
Collaborative Learner
Possible fitSource rates parent involvement as low to none and the format is built around one student watching a video and working independently, with no built-in group or peer component.
Persistent Solver
Excellent fitFormal coursebooks and Test Booklets at Life Science level and above, plus a CLEP-eligible Biology course, reward sustained independent effort toward measurable mastery.
Learning Environment
Safety
Possible fitShort, low-pressure daily videos keep initial exposure light, though formal Test Booklets at Life Science level and above introduce real graded stakes that a highly safety-sensitive student may find pressuring.
Structure
Excellent fitA consistent daily video-then-workbook routine at every level, plus a defined formal testing schedule at upper levels, gives the program a highly predictable shape.
Ownership
Excellent fitWith parent involvement rated as low to none and student independence rated as high, the student largely drives their own daily video-and-workbook routine without a parent scripting each step.
Movement & Variety
Good fitHands-on activity is rated only Moderate overall, concentrated mainly in the Biology lab kit (microscope, slides, dissection), with most other levels leaning on video-plus-workbook rather than varied physical activity.
How Skills Build Over Time
One idea at a time, taught until it's solid before moving on.
Coursework moves from short daily videos and simple workbooks in Introductory Science (grades 1-5) to full coursebooks with formal Test Booklets at Life Science, Chemistry, Physics, and Biology (grades 6-12), with Biology structured for CLEP credit.
Research & evidence
Frequently asked questions
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Related articles
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